Mr Johnson's analysis said that although Philip Hammond's Spring Statement was not expected to be a big fiscal event, "by once again declining to set totals for the forthcoming spending review, [Mr Hammond] deferred making some of the biggest non-Brexit decisions of the parliament".

Mr Johnson suggests that Brexit issues are diverting attention from other key economic concerns facing the UK: the benefits squeeze, education funding, and the social care green paper.

"Waiting for the green paper" has become rather like Waiting for Godot... It didn't even merit a mention. The Augar review of funding further and higher education was at least acknowledged, though we still await its conclusions," Mr Johnson said.

He added: "There's plenty that needs fixing and there are ways of raising more revenue, but they need to be carefully thought out and implemented if they are to be both effective and fair."